In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Dec. 01 2022

NASAMS

Credit: NASA. NASA’s Artemis I Orion spacecraft began its journey back to Earth from the Moon on Dec. 1 with the successful execution of the first of two major maneuvers needed to place the uncrewed capsule on course toward a Pacific Ocean splashdown.

Pentagon

Credit: Airbus Defense and Space. After nearly a fortnight of uncertainty, Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier has declared that a deal has been reached concerning the workshare on the trinational European Future Combat Air System.

Credit: Tony Osborne/AW&ST. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has signed an agreement with Egypt’s Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) in a move that could pave the way for the production of KAI’s training aircraft in the North African country.

Credit: Swedish Armed Forces. The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has completed the MS20 upgrade on all 11 of its Saab JAS 39 C/D Gripen fighters.

Credit: Airbus. Airbus will cease procuring titanium from Russian suppliers in what is now a matter of months, according to Michael Schoellhorn, Airbus Defence and Space CEO.

Credit: DARPA. DARPA has selected General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) to complete the preliminary design of a C-17-sized, double-fuselage freighter capable of wing-in-ground-effect and up-and-away flight. 

Credit: Adrian Weale, UK Ministry of Defence. Despite major procurement contracts generally grabbing the headlines within the military aircraft market, Aviation Week’s newly released 2023 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast projects that aftermarket demand will far outstrip spending on procurement over the next decade.

Orion